Posted on 10/14/2022 10:03:24 AM PDT by knarf
That’s good to know, my friend! Glad to have you on our side!
I had an old Black master sergeant tell me back in 1976 at Fort Riley that one reason the American Army had troubles in Vietnam was because the young soldier boys would smoke that marijuana and go to sleep when they were supposed to be on watch. Others told me that it was better to have alcoholics than pot heads.
Minor gripe of mine. Why were us Cold War service personell excluded from wearing the National Service ribbon? Did we not serve our Nation? A recruit just passing boot camp can now wear that ribbon. I find it an insult to the thousands of military folks who protected the US from the Soviet machine and other threats.
You’re not alone
When did he date her? Before the movie The Truth about Cats and Dogs?
USAF 1972-79
Gunboats ‘68-’69. Mainly Danang.
Got over it. I think the PTSD diagnoses make it worse. The drugs they give the vets increase the suicides. They dont reduce the problems at all.
USN ‘75-’81 missed most of the conflicts, first of the “all volunteer navy”. No ptsd, no purple heart, not much to show for my active duty.
I was in, I got out . . . it was the late 60’s . . . I got and stayed pretty high and “satisfied”
Military lifestyle not for me.
Sometimes if you ask the wrong questions you get the wrong answer.
The correct question to ask about Vietnam is:
Who benefited?
Once you figure that one out everything else makes sense.
Spoiler alert:
.....
Deep State and the military industrial complex....
Everybody else was played—just like they are today.
'65 - '68 were incredible years in America and only 20 at discharge, and mimi skirts up to HERE . . . . welllll
I was 19 at enlistment, Jan 8, 1975. Couldn’t buy a job in Flint, mi. So it was good for me. I matured, had steady work. Traveled to 19 countries. I grew increasingly unhappy with active duty, very happy to get out in 1981. I now live on the west coast of Michigan. Now i have 3 successful grown children, 8 grandkids, a wife that loves me and stands by me. Life is good.
I couldn’t agree more strongly with that.
IMO, Viet Nam was an example of how far the US (a member of the now-defunct SEATO) was willing to go to fight communism even though it was unwinnable - ask the French. That the US then under SEATO and its desire to create the mega-MIC despite all the kickback is eerily similar to the Ukraine and NATO now.
The only difference is that we haven’t sacrificed 50,000+ of our men and women - yet. We’re only killing DOLLARS - dollars that could have been put against a lot of homegrown problems.
I concur with menopause destruction.
When I got out of the Navy in ‘71 (includes one Nam tour on gunboats) just about everyone was antiwar. The news media (them again) were running a campaign depicting Vietnam Vets as ticking time bombs. I learned to never mention my service at parties because many people would quietly shun you.
Fast forward to today. No one in my age group was against vets. Isn’t that amazing? That’s what they say. I remember it differently
USAF 71 to 80.
Spent time in Thailand, slinging radar jamming pods on F4s. Linebacker II was lotsa fun...
Got the “Greetings” letter two weeks after heading for AF basic. Too Late Guys.
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